Rep Power: 497

The event, held annually by the Automobile Journalists Association of Canada at Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ont., will see about 70 of Canada's top auto writers test almost every new model coming to market in 2012. Only models that are all new, or significantly new, are in the contest.

This year, there are 57 vehicles in 11 categories that range from small car under $21,000 to SUV over $60,000. Only one entrant from each category will win in the event that has come to be known as "Testfest."

From there, each category winner is in the running for the title of overall best new Canadian car (or utility) of the year, a designation that ultimately helps anyone looking for a new vehicle decide what they should consider.

But the category winners are equally important, too. Much like the overall winner, category winners are determined by AJAC members who, over the course of the week, will be evaluating and road testing the vehicles in back-to-back sessions, then scoring and voting on the vehicles based on about a dozen attributes, from fit and finish to handling and performance and value.

Read more: http://www.driving.ca/2012+Canadian+...#ixzz1bstmY992

The winners are to be announced at the end of the week.